The Judith Basin held a central place in Montana's history. For centuries its lush grasses attracted large numbers of buffalo, antelope, and deer, and the abundant game drew Indian hunting parties to the area. By the late 1870's, Indians had been confined to reservations outside the basin and most of the buffalo were gone. Montana cattlemen moved into the area in 1880, and by 1885 cattle grazed in the valley. Active outfits included the Judith Cattle Company, the renowned Davis-Hauser-Stuart (DHS) Ranch, and Conrad Kohrs and Nick Bielenberg. Artist Charlie Russell gained much of his early experience as a cowboy here during the 1880's and later captured the area's rich and colorful history in some of his most famous paintings. After the cattlemen came the homesteaders, many drawn to this agriculturally fertile area by the marketing of the Great Northern and Milwaukee Road Railroads.